“You don’t mean that.”
“You’re right, I don’t.” He laughed. “I’ll eat you for dinner, and maybe even share you with Sly. We’ll be sharing so many things throughout the coming millennia.”
That thought didn’t comfort her. She knew he was right. Sly would sacrifice himself for her, and she couldn’t let that happen. She swiped the tears away and took some deep, slow breaths.
If only she could communicate with Sly or Gwyneth! Or if Chad could find her, he might be able guide her out while the others created a diversion. But all of them putting their heads together like that was highly unlikely.
She tried to calm herself but the completely dark room closed in on her. Her heartbeat had been racing ever since she was abducted, but now she could hear it pounding in her brain. Her chest constricted, she broke out in a sweat and her mouth went dry.
Get control over yourself, Morgaine! Remember, Sly has secret weapons. A glass of Vampire Vintage will allow him to break in during the day. Gwyneth knows where Malvant’s lair is. All they have to do is wait until daylight.
Yeah, they wouldn’t wait and she knew it. They’d walk right into Vorigan Malvant’s trap. She had to find her own way out of here before they tried anything.
Despite her heart hammering against her ribs, Morgaine forced herself to stand and feel along the perimeter. She needed to locate doors and windows. How could a room be so dark if it had windows? She prayed to the Goddess that they were just so light-tight she couldn’t see them. She placed her hands against the wall over her head. They were in a basement, so windows would have to be small and high.
Eventually she made her way back to the door without finding another egress. Damn it. Didn’t he know a bedroom without an escape window wasn’t to code? Oh Hell. What did he care aboutlegal apartments? And for all she knew, she might be locked in what was supposed to be a walk-in closet.
A new emotion took over.Anger.And it was helping combat her overwhelming fear of the dark.Yes! Hang onto the anger.
“You fuckin’ asshole! Let me out of here!”
She was met with silence.
“Damn you to Hell! I hate your guts.”
Still no response.
“When I get out of here, I’ll stake you where your heart should be a thousand times! But I doubt you have a heart.”
“Well, now that’s just rude,” he called through the door.
Her shoulders slumped. He wasn’t the least bit worried about the consequences of his actions. He probably expected her to be angry and was completely unfazed by her threats. She wanted to burst into tears.Keep it together, Morgaine. You can do this.
She wasn’t going to let her loved ones walk into a trap. Her panic wouldn’t help anyone. More than ever before she needed to focus.Think. You’re a powerful witch, dammit!
Ah, that was it! She needed a spell. But what would be powerful enough?
Frig.Evenifthe right words opened the door, Malvant was still on the other side. How could she get out, overpower a vampire, and run away before he went after her?That’s a hell of a lot to ask of a spell.
Wait a minute. She could astral project. Maybe she could create her own diversion and mislead him into thinking she’d escaped. While he was chasing her image, if she could find a way to open the door, she’d really escape.
That was a crapshoot if ever there was one. But something about astral projection stuck in her mind as the answer. There was one thing she could do. She could intercept Sly if he came looking for her before morning. She couldn’t speak to him in that form, but she could find some way of waving him off.Hopefully.
“Please, Gwyneth. You’re the only one who knows where his lair is. You’vegotto help.”
“For pity sakes, Sly. Quit jarring your preserves.” Gwyneth jammed her hands on her hips. “Chargin’ over there at night when there’s a way to sneak in during the day is just pure stupid.”He’s wound up tighter than a fat lady’s girdle at an all-you-can-eat breakfast.
“If he hurts her and I do nothing, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“He ain’t gonna hurt her. She’s his way to get to get y’all to come runnin’, and he knows it. So should you.”
Sly shook his head and stared at the floor. “She must be out of her mind with fear. I can’t stand the thought of her going through that.”
Gwyneth grabbed his hand and talked as she led him down the stairs. “Yeah, her cheese is probably slidin’ off her cracker, but y’all know as well as I do, she ain’t gonna die. She may think she is, but she ain’t. Now quit frettin’ and git some of that vampire wine. We’re gonna add some to the moonshine and see if it works like Morgaine reckons it will. You must be hungry now, right?”
“The blood lust is back, yes. But I don’t want to waste time.”
“Well, we need to try makin’ it anyway, so you won’t be wastin’ time. Then we can go after her during the day.”
